1970s musical 'The Me Nobody Knows' explored again

NEW YORK (AP) — One Broadway director is going back to the early 1970s to pull out a poignant, untraditional gem of a musical called "The Me Nobody Knows."

Stafford Arima said Monday he is directing an industry reading of the children-led revue May 14-15 in New York City in anticipation of a commercial production.

The show — made up of songs, poetry and moments of dialogue — takes its lyrics and dialogue from the writings of nearly 200 New York City public school children, ages 7 through 18. The children express their feelings, reveal anxiety and show optimism.

Adapted by a book, the show went from an off-Broadway theater to one on Broadway in 1970 and ran over 300 performances, starring a then-unknown Irene Cara, later of "Flashdance" fame.